SAYER Norman Casswell

The birth of Norman Caswell Sayer is registered in the December Quarter 1887 under the Cannock Registration District.

Norman Caswell Sayer enlisted in the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on 4th January 1915 at Moosomin, Saskatchewan, Canada for the duration of the war. On his attestation paper he gave his date of birth as 22nd September 1888 in Shareshill, Staffordshire, England, his occupation as a farmer and his next of kin as his mother, Rose Ester Sayer of Chakworth, Selbrook.  His mother’s home address was later amended to The Bungalow, Lower Howsell, Malvern Link, Worcestershire.  Norman was 5 feet 5 inches tall with a dark complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair.

On 29th April 1916 he sailed from Canada on the S.S. Olympic, arriving in England on 10th May 1916.  After several months at Shorncliffe he was posted overseas to France on 27th September 1916.  On 4th January 1917 he was awarded the Good Conduct Badge.  Norman was killed in action on 10th April 1917.  In his will he left all of his personal effects to his mother.  To his sister, Mrs Isabela Rose Cross, he left the colt of his sorrel Mare, Heather.

National Archives of Canada Reference:
RG150, Accession 1992-93/166 Box 8679 – 54

The Canada War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty)  records the following information on Private Norman Caswell Sayer:
“Killed in Action.” During the attack at Farbus.

Appears in the Worcester/Worcestershire Roll of Honour Book for army casualties located in Worcester Cathedral.

The following report appears in the Malvern News, 12th May 1917:
Mrs Sayer of Lower Howsell, whose son was killed in action, has received a letter from his platoon commander: “I was in charge of the platoon on the 9th April and I have been for nearly six months.  I am writing as I wish you to know and feel, as we know and feel that, mingled with the sadness of your son’s death is the beauty of his duties well done and the coolness and bravery that only are displayed by heroes.  I can only think of your son as one of the noblest men I have ever known and wish that I could do more to comfort a mother’s heart.”

A photograph of Private N.C. Sayer of Malvern Link can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 12th May 1917, available at Worcestershire Archives.

Norman Sayer has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Vimy Memorial.